The Title IV-D agency may charge certain fees and recover costs, but it cannot charge an application fee in public-assistance cases and the fee cannot exceed the federal maximum.
Sec. 231.103. APPLICATION AND SERVICE FEES. (a) The Title IV-D agency may: (1) charge a reasonable application fee; (2) charge a $35 annual service fee; and (3) to the extent permitted by federal law, recover costs for the services provided in a Title IV-D case. (b) An application fee may not be charged in a case in which the Title IV-D agency provides services because the family receives public assistance. (c) An application fee may not exceed a maximum amount established by federal law. (d) Repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 972, Sec. 65(3), eff. September 1, 2007. (e) The Title IV-D agency may impose and collect a fee as authorized by federal law for each request for parent locator services under Section 231.101(a). (f) The state disbursement unit established and operated by the Title IV-D agency under Chapter 234 may collect a monthly service fee of $3 in each case in which support payments are processed through the unit. (g) The Title IV-D agency by rule shall establish procedures for the imposition of fees and recovery of costs authorized under this section. (g-1) A fee authorized under this section for providing child support enforcement services is part of the child support obligation if the obligor is responsible for the fee, and may be enforced against the obligor through any method available for the enforcement of child support, including contempt. (h) The attorney general child support application and service fee account is an account in the general revenue fund in the state treasury. The account consists of all fees and costs collected under this section. The Title IV-D agency may only use the money in the account for agency program expenditures. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1262, Sec. 2, 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 972 (S.B. 228), Sec. 48, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 972 (S.B. 228), Sec. 65(3), eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 13.01, eff. September 1, 2019.